'Made in America' Concert Set for March 23 at Webster United Church of Christ

The Washtenaw Community College Sax Quartet will perform traditional African-American music alongside local musicians during a free concert.

Webster United Church of Christ will host an African-American music concert on March 23. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary, and features Rose Smith (mezzo-soprano), the Washtenaw Community College Sax Quartet, Cherryl Loyd Vanderhoof (dancer and jazz flautist), and the Soul Cafe Dixieland Band. During the concert, musical dialogue will be presented illustrating the unique contributions of the African culture, originating with slaves brought to America, to the developing and current style of American music. The concert will be followed by light refreshments, and an opportunity to talk with the musicians and to learn some African dance from an expert. The concert is open to the public. A free-will offering will be…

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Webster Fall Festival Celebrates 31 Years of History, Community

Blacksmith demonstrations, a pig roast, and tours of Webster Township historical buildings will take place on Saturday.

Good, old-fashioned family fun is set for the 31st annual Webster Township Fall Festival on Sept. 22. The event, co-sponsored by the Webster Township Historical Society and Webster United Church of Christ, begins at 10 a.m. and will feature hayrides, a petting zoo, children’s crafts, a pig roast and local artist exhibits. "The festival is something people all over the area look forward to every year," event volunteer Mary Clark said. "It's the unofficial start of the fall season." The festival begins with the annual rummage sale held in the historic Scadin Farm Barn at 8 a.m. Clark said it is considered a “must-do” as lines typically begin forming around 6 a.m. for the sale. An auction of antiques and collectibles will begin at 10 a.m., …

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Webster United Church of Christ Hosts Outdoor Worship Series

Services will be held June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19 on the church grounds. The public is invited to attend.

Submitted by Webster United Church of Christ The Scadin Farm property adjacent to Webster United Church of Christ on the northeast corner of Webster Church and Farrell roads will be the site of a series of outdoor worship services on three Sundays this summer. The first in the series will occur June 17 at 10 a.m., followed on July 15 and Aug. 19. Pastor Curtiss Demars-Johnson will officiate the service on June 17, and the sermon topic is "Food for Body and Soul." The theme for the July 15 sermon will be "Music in Nature" and will be presented by several of Webster's musicians. On Aug. 19, John E. Gannon, senior scientist emeritus of the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Regional Office, will speak. Gannon is a long time member of …

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Webster United Church of Christ Appoints Curtiss DeMars-Johnson Permanent Pastor

The Webster congregation appointed the pastor after a 15-month trial period.

The Reverend Curtiss DeMars-Johnson has been named the permanent pastor at Webster United Church of Christ. The congregation voted overwhelmingly on June 3 following a 15-month period during which DeMars-Johnson served as interim pastor. "During the 15 months the church congregation and Pastor Curt got to know one another, and each of us liked what we saw. We are very pleased to welcome him as our new senior pastor and look forward to a new excitement at Webster," church council president Steve Bemis said. In addition to DeMars-Johnson's appointment, the congregation also welcomed four new members on the same day. The oldest continuously-occupied church structure in Washtenaw County, Webster UCC was founded in 1834 and had 56 different …

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Webster United Church of Christ Welcomes Dr. Bruce Martin as Guest Speaker

The theology scholar will lead a discussion on the topic of "Christ and culture" on April 22 at the church.

Dr. Bruce Martin, executive director of the Ecumenical Center and International Residence at the University of Michigan, will lead a presentation at Webster United Church of Christ at 10 a.m. April 22. Martin will speak on the topic of "Christ and culture" followed by a question and answer session with the audience. The public is invited to attend the presentation. Martin earned his Doctor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served as chaplain at Eastern Mennonite University and at Pennsylvania State University. He is currently an adjunct instructor in Ojibwe studies for the International Consortium for Indigenous Knowledge at Pennsylvania State. For more information, call 734-426-5115.

Webster United Church of Christ Hosts Art Exhibit, Concert to Benefit Washtenaw County Homeless

Saturday's concert will help purchase supplies for Camp Take Notice, a tent city in Scio Township.

WEBSTER TOWNSHIP — With more than 1,800 residents living in poverty in Washtenaw County, the congregation at Webster United Church of Christ is hoping a public art display will draw attention to the plight of homelessness in Michigan. The church will host a traveling multimedia art exhibit and a concert Saturday to raise funds for Camp Take Notice, a tent community in Scio Township. "Like all mainstream Protestant churches, we are losing membership, and we've been giving some serious thought about ways to let people know we're here and that we're involved in the community," event coordinator Judy Bemis said. "This show came together as a way of helping out our neighbors. As a church, we have a long history of reaching out to those in need…

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